178 Businesses Join Fight Against Anti-Trans Memo

It’s been less than a month since news broke that the Trump administration is considering drastically rolling back rights and recognitions of transgender people. The possibility has been vehemently condemned by people across the nation, with activists and celebrities lending their voices to draw attention to the issue.

Now businesses are jumping into the fight.

At the start of November, 56 companies signed a declaration that they stand for trans equality and oppose any policies that go against that. The initial companies joined in this endeavor included powerhouses such as Amazon, Apple, and Google.

“Transgender, gender non-binary, and intersex people are our beloved family members and friends, and our valued team members,” the statement reads. “What harms them harms our companies. We call for respect and transparency in policy-making, and for equality under the law for transgender, gender non-binary, and intersex people.”

The HRC released an update yesterday stating that there are now 178 companies backing this effort, made up of 49 large businesses and 73 smaller and mid-sized ones.

Erin Uritus, the CEO of Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, issued a statement that was right to the point: “So often, these discriminatory policies are made in the name of Business, but companies and communities know that discrimination is – in fact – bad for business.”

It’s easy to take a cynical look at companies supporting LGBTQ rights at any point and just see well-groomed men in suits with dollar signs in their eyes, but in a country where politics and business are seemingly increasingly entangled, corporations pledging to stand for trans rights certainly can only help.

That is, assuming their words are backed by action should the need come for it. Money speaks, after all, and the companies represented bring in over $3.2 trillion combined on an annual basis.

If they use some of that fighting for their trans employees, all the better.